East Carolina University Softball

Shane Winkler enters his fifth season as the head softball coach at East Carolina University after being tabbed as the Pirates' head coach in May 2021 follow...

Grady Dillon was hired as an Assistant Director of Media Relations in August 2022. Dillon oversees media relations for the men's basketball, softball and women's swimming and diving programs. A 2020 graduate of East Carolina University, Dillon recently earned his master's in Sports Administration at the University of Louisville while serving as a graduate assistant in the athletics department for sports information. In his role, Dillon assisted with coverage of the Cardinals' 22 sports including postseason coverage of women's basketball, volleyball and baseball. During the spring, Dillon served as the primary contact for men's tennis and covered the team in the 2022 ACC Men's Tennis Tournament and 2022 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament. Dillon also served as the editor of the football and men's basketball digital game programs. The Greenville, N.C. native earned his degree in Communication while at ECU, where he assisted the media relations department with football, men's and women's basketball and baseball through his four years as a student. During his senior year, Dillon was an intern with the ECU News Services office and wrote monthly feature stories called 'Pirate Profiles', which highlight outstanding students and faculty at the university.

Jenna Cone enters her fifth season as an assistant coach for the East Carolina softball team after being named to the position in June 2021. Cone will transi...

Katie Bradley serves as the Associate Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement, a role she has been in since November 2022. She currently covers all marketing initiatives for men's basketball, soccer, and softball. Prior to her role at East Carolina University, she spent time at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn. serving as the Senior Marketing and Promotions Coordinator and oversaw marketing initiatives for each athletic program at TTU. Here she also coordinated and executed sponsorship agreements for the Bobby Nichols Golden Eagle Scramble, one of the largest golf tournaments in the state of Tennessee. Supervising a group of over 20 students, she lead marketing efforts and saw an overall increase in student attendance at games, social media followers, and an increase in sponsorship sales. Katie began her career in college athletics as the sports marketing assistant at the University of North Carolina Wilmington while pursuing her undergraduate degree in Sports Management. A native of North Carolina, she currently resides in Greenville with her husband Keaton Bradley.

Lannie Hales was promoted to associate athletic trainer in the summer of 2024, after serving as an assistant athletic trainer since being hired at East Carolina in July 2017. Hales currently works with the Softball and Men's Golf programs, after spending four years providing coverage for Cross Country/Track and Field. Prior to joining the Pirates, Hales served two years as a graduate assistant athletic trainer working primarily with the NC State Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track and Field program. Additionally, she assisted with coverage for the NC State Women's Soccer team during the 2016-2017 season. A Lawrenceville, Virginia native, Hales earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from James Madison University in May 2015. Hales completed a Master of Education in Adult and Community College Education with a specialization in Health Professions Education from North Carolina State University in May 2017. Hales is a certified athletic trainer, licensed through the North Carolina Board of Athletic Training Examiners. She is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), Mid-Atlantic Athletic Trainers' Association (MAATA) and North Carolina Athletic Trainers' Association (NCATA).

Lexie Handley enters her second season as an assistant coach for the Pirates' softball program after being named to the position in August 2024. Handley arri...

Makenzie Mason enters her first year as director of operations/assistant coach for the East Carolina softball program after being named to the position on Au...